Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
John SHERMAN In ILLINOIS.
AN ADDRESS ON THE GREAT QUES-
TONS OF THE DAY.
10 The Principles and Tendencies of the
two Great Delivered before
the state Legislature and Many Dis
tinguished Guests.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 2.-Senator
sherman on invitation of the legislature
o. Illinois yesterday afternoon addressed
The members of that body and distin-
gals he'd assemblage of prominent repub-
lican politicians from all sections and cit
liens and ladies on the political questions
of the day.s He was received with great
cordiality. His text was "The principles
and tendencies of the two great political
parties" This led him to review, at some
'ength, the position of the two parties
before and during the civil war, and
when he alluded to Mr.. Lincoln and the
patriotic acts of Douglas and Logan, there
was great enthusiasm. He said: John
A. Logan lived the life that l believe
stephen A. Douglas would have
lived if death had spared him.
And now the marble images of
Lincoln and Douglas stand side by side in
the rotunda of the capitol, once adver-
sares in debates, then friends, and now
saints alike in the galaxy of the patriotic
dead of the republic. The marble statue
Of Logan should complete the triumvir-
ate"
He reviewed at some length the rela-
Gions of the two parties to legislation
since the war and the political results in
she nation. "The FUTURE" he said, "opens
before us an infinite variety of questions
which will turn on the extent of national
authority" He charged President Cleve-
rand with ingratitude to the union army
as was shown in "his innumerable vetoes
" private pension bills and his indiffer-
'ence to the suffering of invalid and indi-
gent union soldiers scattered through the
country" Touching the tariff question
the free traders, "but he will learn the
same lesson so many democrats before
him have learned. The confederate cOnsti-
tuition declared in 30 many words that no
duties or taxes on impOrtatiOns from for
aign nations shall be LAID to promote or
foster any branch of industry. and that Is
the creed Of the democratic party"
Continuing Senator Sherman said:
The president has received great credit
in certain quarters for the support he has
given to the civil service law. This law
only applies to clerical services In the great
Now this is a republican measure for
which | voted with the great body of the
republican members of the Senate and
House, and | will join heartily in ap-
prevail in its just and firm enforcement,
but now an ingenious way has been found
substantially to get rid of the law by re-
Iuiring old and experienced employees,
who have become by.long training invalu-
able to the public service, to pass a school
examination to test whether they ought to
be retained or not. | am afraid such a
test would clean out even so excellent a
body as the Illinois Legislature. know
{ would seriously affect many heads of
departments. And now 1t is claimed that
lnder the demands of our democratic
friends, hungry and thirsty after,a long
asst more than four-fifths of republican
officers not embraced in the civil service
.aw have been changed by the president
When the Senate politely asked for the
cause of removal, he said as Jack Falstaff
did, he would not tell upon compulsion.
Let no man be mislead into the con
clusion that all the vital issues dividing
he two parties have been settled There
are many things that lie near to the heart
Of the American people. They demand a
Tree ballot, a fair count and correct re-
ourns. They wish still further to develop
and diversity American industry. They
wish to produce eevrything in this coun-
Try for which the God of Nature has given
is the raw materials, or which is suited
TO our soil and climate. Every measure
should be supported that will tend to pro-
tect and foster home industries. We
should not be content 1I until every channel
provement. and which will yield benefits
equal to its cost, shall be improved. We
should connect the Father of Waters with
our great system of lakes by waterways
sufficient not only to protect our COM
iAoiSe III transporting supplies III peace,
but TO transfer from the heart of the
country vessels and means of defence in
time of war. The education of the rising
generation, without respect to race, color
or previous condition, ought to be a con-
slant object of desire, not only by local
and State governments, but by the ma
tonal government. The equal enjoyment
OF every civil and political right given by
The constitution should be secured by
every legal and constitutional means.